Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Arkansas Derby taking shape
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby next month at Oaklawn Park has picked up a trio of new probables in Super Stock, Caddo River, and Keepmeinmind.
The horses finished a respective fourth through sixth in the Rebel Stakes last Saturday at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile Rebel serves as the final steppingstone to the Arkansas Derby. The 1 1/8-mile fixture is set for April 10.
Super Stock was making his first start since October in the Rebel, and he rallied from nextto-last for fourth behind winner Concert Tour. Super Stock earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 83 – and five points for the Kentucky Derby.
“He came out of the race perfect,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He’ll probably run back in the [Arkansas] Derby. He needed the race. He continued on nicely – looks like a mile and an eighth won’t get in his way.”
Super Stock was a stakes winner last year at Lone Star Park and proceeded to run third in both the Grade 3 Iroquois in September at Churchill Downs and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity in October at Keeneland. The latter race was won by eventual champion Essential Quality.
Super Stock is a son of Dialed In who races for Asmussen’s father, Keith, and Erv Woolsey. The horse has a total of nine points for the Kentucky Derby.
Caddo River, the Rebel favorite who finished fifth after pushing the pace set by Concert Tour, is now a candidate for the Arkansas Derby, trainer Brad Cox said on a National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference on Tuesday. Caddo River has 10 points for the Kentucky Derby by virtue of his win in the $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn.
Keepmeinmind, who closed for sixth in the Rebel, will likely make his next start in the Arkansas Derby, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Wednesday. The horse is based at Oaklawn. Keepmeinmind also remains under consideration for the Blue Grass at Keeneland, where last year he was second in the Breeders’ Futurity and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
“We’re leaning toward the Arkansas Derby,” Diodoro said. “We’ll take it one day at a time. I think that’s the plan. Things could change, to the Blue Grass, but right now we’re leaning toward the Arkansas Derby.”
The Rebel was Keepmeinmind’s first start of the year, following his win in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in November at Churchill. He ranks 14th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard list with 18 points. The Arkansas Derby will reward its first four finishers with points on a scale of 100-40-20-10.
Will’s Secret weighs options
Willis Horton and trainer Dallas Stewart are still determining their next move with Will’s Secret, who won her second Kentucky Oaks points race of the Oaklawn meet on March 6 in the Grade 3 Honeybee.
“She’s doing real good, has had a lot of good days since she ran,” Stewart said Tuesday. “We’re just trying to figure out what our next move is. You go back and forth.”
Stewart said he and Horton are looking at running in either the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy on April 3 at Oaklawn or having Will’s Secret just train up to the Kentucky Oaks.
The decision will impact the course of action to be taken with the promising Take Charge Lorin, who was a maiden special weight route winner Feb. 25 at Oaklawn. Stewart said she could go to the Ashland at Keeneland if Will’s Secret lands in the Fantasy. However, if Will’s Secret trains up to the Oaks, the plan would be to target the Fantasy with Take Charge Lorin.
Take Charge Lorin is a daughter of Tapit. Her dam, Take Charge Tressa, is a half-sister to Horton’s champion Take Charge Brandi and full sister to Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach. Horton and Stewart won the Kentucky Oaks in 2006 with Lemons Forever.
Windmill eyes Purple Martin
Windmill, who is unbeaten in two starts, is being pointed to the $200,000 Purple Martin for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs April 3 at Oaklawn, trainer Larry Jones said Tuesday.
Windmill won her debut in a maiden special weight sprint Jan. 23 at Oaklawn, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 84. She came back and won the $150,000 Dixie Belle by a length here Feb. 28, defeating a strong field with a Beyer of 87.
“I was very tickled with her,” Jones said. “It was nice for her to be able to handle horses like that. Thank goodness a lot of them had not raced a lot – [but] it looked like they knew what they were doing. Three were undefeated fillies.
“We knew everybody brought a nice horse to the race, and for her to be able to beat them the way she did, well within herself, I was very pleased.”
Windmill is a daughter of Street Sense who races for Fox Hill Farms. She’s from the female family of Grade 1 winners Tara’s Tango and Visionaire.
Whitmore halter at auction
A halter from champion Whitmore is one of the auction items set to be sold online in an upcoming fundraiser for the Arkansas Racetrack Chaplaincy. Other items include a quilt made out of Oaklawn stakes saddle towels and a diamond necklace, said Robi Heffington, who serves as the local chaplain alongside her husband, Rich.
The auction will run March 25-28 atwww. oak lawn chapel. wedoauctions.com. It replaces the annual banquet fundraiser, which has been canceled for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic.